Control apparatus



R. L.. WILSON ET AL Jan. 25, 1949.

CONTROL APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Oct. 24, 1945 Passer Z A 770km: ns

Jan. 25, 1949. R. 1 WILSON ET AL CONTROL APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed OOb. 24, 1945 P M u P 1N VEN TORS Possa/135. Zf/Z/S'of? fra/122 @Knauer A Trae/vf Y6 Jan- 25 1949- v R. wlLsoN ET AL .2,460,055

CONTROL APPARATUS Filed om.` 24, 1945 s sheets-sheet s mx 125 IDLE 7 AoJusnNe PEmoo :N DmEcT Pqopoznon s 12e-1 IDLE PEmon 1N lhlveesxe PpoPom-loN l: -120A IDLE Famous E 12e-z t Z-S 126'4 5 AnJusTlNe PEaloos Q Q `i205 126-5 12e-. 12e-7 ,264 I 4 f2s-8 126-9 f AoJusT 12870 ma o z I TME o [,252 [1253 T l M E':

M 125e 2 n l AJusTlNe PERIOD IN DIRECT PRDPOR'UON Q IDLE fzv 1mg glow lLE Pumoo CONSTANT l- E 120E-1 I .ELIMINA-:Es knEosTAT RA AUJUSTING PERODS AND AFFORDS CONSTANT RELEASE PERIOD FOR.. RELAY A u /120A1 I: E'. z Amos? z o mme o T M E:

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I lzsv DLE 126C Amma-HN@ Peano CoNsTANT 2' lol.: :mman N )Nvt- RSE PaaPnRTloN s A a IDI-.e Pcklcos t; 12o -2 25V ELIMINATES QHEosTAT RB J ADJUSTING PEEODS AND I'FQRDS CONSTANT A RELEASE Pelzloo Fol e am EL E t' r G nwusr Q o O TME T E "'\126 Q.

mx. z wu. i ADJUaTING PERIOD CONSTANT 0 j lou: Pirineos DLE PERIOD CQNSTANT i /Qzo l Awusrmo Pemoos ELlMmA-:Es RHEOSTATS RA mw RB q Anw ArfFolzDs CnNTAm-r E Q5 c., RELEASE Pczmos Foa ADJST RELAYS A Anw B, E E

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12sc-1 126 c-1 INVENTORS A Troia/vf Ys Patented Jan. 25, 1949 CONTROL APPARATUS Rosser L. Wilson,

Mahwah,

and Erwin R.

Knauer, Westwood, N. J., assignors to American Brake Shoe Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application October 24, 1945, Serial No. 624,184

21 Claims. l

This invention relates to control apparatus and particularly to control apparatus for governing and regulating a selected variable condition so as to maintain such condition at a substantially constant measurable value.

It is Well recognized that problems of automatic regulation may be encountered in almost any iield where a variable condition that is oi a measurable character is considered to be important or critical, and such variable conditions may relate to such measurable factors as heat, time, relationship, quantity, dimensions, motion or physical properties of matter or compositions of matter, as well as to other variable factors or conditions. In most instances the problem of regulation involves the maintenance of the critical condition at a predetermined. measurable value, or within a selected range or tolerance on either side of such a predetermined value, and this of course involves not only the measurement of the critical condition but also the performance of corrective control operations to re-establish the desired condition when objectionable variation thereof is detected by the condition measuring means.

The performance of such corrective adjusting or controlling operations must of course take place rapidly and promptly upon detection of an objectionable variation in the measured value of the critical condition, for in the absence of such prompt and rapid correction, the regulating apparatus is sluggish and lacks the desirable characteristics of responsiveness and accuracy of regulation. The attainment of rapidity and promptness of operation in such regulators tends,

however,- to cause over-correction or hunting, and

because of this it has been necessary in the past to resort to quite complicated and expensive structure in prior regulators in order to attain responsiveness Without hunting. Moreover in such highly responsive regulators as heretofore constructed the range of ac-curate performance has been quite limited, and the response characteristics of such prior regulators have been such that almost every different condition, or iield of use, or range of conditions, has required the design and construction of a highly specialized control apparatus. As a result, most regulators have been relatively expensive to manufacture and maintain, and in View of this, it is an important object of the present invention to simplify the construction and maintenance of highly sensitive and accurate regulators, to enable regulators to be utilized in many different fields, to simplify and facilitate the application of a basic form and construction of a regulator to different fields and conditions vvof use, and to enable these objectives to be attained in a practical and economical manner.

It will be evident that when the critical condition of speed, temperature, humidity or the like has varied in a considerable amount from the desired predetermined value, the readjusting or correcting operations may progress quite rapidly and may be relatively long, but it will also be evident that when the amount of variance of the critical condition from the desired value is relatively small, the increments of correction or readjustment must be relatively small in order to avoid over-adjustment with the constant tendency of the apparatus to hunt. It is therefore a further object of the present invention to enable the correction or readjustment of a critical condition to be accomplished without hunting, and a further object is to enable this to be accomplished by apparatus that is simple and inexpensive in character. Another and related object is to materially simplify the attainment of a proportionalized governing or regulating operation., and to enable such proportionalized governing action to be attained by means that is primarily electrical in character.

A further object of the invention is to accomplish a proportionalized governing 01 regulating operation through use of a plurality of slow-torelease relays, and to enable the release times of such relays to govern not only the length of the speed adjusting operations that are effected but also to enable such relays to govern the intervals between the successive speed adjusting operations of the apparatus. A more specific object of the invention is to utilize slow-to-release relays in such a manner that the release times oi such relays may be varied in accordance with and generally as a function of the amount of correction that is required to re-establish the desired Value of the condition that is being regulated. A further object is to enable one sloW-to-release relay to govern the length of the successive control operations in such a manner as to be proportional to the amount of correction that is required in the speed of the controlled motor or engine, and to enable another slow-to-release relay to govern the interval between the successive control operations in such a manner that the length of such intervals is varied in an inverse relationship to the amount of correction that is required.

In the attainment of control oi the speed oi a variable speed motor or engine, it is a common practice to employ an adjustable ball governor to establish the desired or predetermined speed that is to be maintained, and to associate the control apparatus with such a governor so as to attain the desired controlling action upon the speed of the motor,V and` it is a further actionof this invention to enable an electrical control apparatus to be associated with such a ball governor such a manner as. to produce a proportionalized speedgoverningaction upon the motor or engine.

Other and further objects of the present in-Y vention will be apparent from the following de'-V scription and claims and are illustratedin the accompanying drawings which, by way of illustration, show preferred embodiments and vthe Jrinciple thereof and what we now consider to be the best inode in which we vhave contemplated applying that principle. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the saine or` equivalent principle may be used and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without' departing from the present invention and the purview oi' the appended claims?.

VIn the'drawings: y

Fig. l is a diagrammatic view illustrating a regulating apparatus embodying the featuresof the invention;

temperature the invention; Y

8 is a similar .diagrammatic view illustrating the general application of the present invention to regulating problems; and

Figs. 4 and 4A, 5 and 5A, 6 and 6A and 7 and TA are views illustrating graphically the differmodes of regulatingV operation that may readily be attained with the apparatus of the ent invention.

In the form chosen for disclosure in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the invention is illustrated as embodied in a speed regulator, and in this eine bodiment of the invention thecritical condition of speedthat is tobe regulated is exhibited in a means i2 that includes a rotating shaft i3. rThe means i2, and the shaft i3 thereof, are driven regulating apparatus embodying iff, 2 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a by a variable speed driving engine i5 so that the speed of the shaft i3V is dependent upon the speed at which the variable speed engine E5 is operating, Thus the means i2 constitute the means in which the crit-ical condition is eX- hibited or produced, while the engine i5 constithe means forprod-ucing such condition.

The spe of operation of the engine ,iii may be adjns by speedgoverningmeans il that may take erent VYconvent-ional, forms inY vaccordance with the type of engine i5 and the use for which the engine i5 and -thelneans i2 are to be employed. Thus, for example, if the engine 5 5 takes the form of an internal combustion engine, the s' `governing inea-,ns ii' may constitute a device for varying the fuel supply to the engine,

may be operatively associated with the enlii by a connection i8, or `in the event that the engine l5 is being utized to afford driving power for a propellenthe pitch of the propeller may Vbe varied by the speed governing means Ii so to vary the load on the engine i5 .and thereby the operating speed of the engine.

@poration of the speed adjusting means ii is effected by reversible powerV operated adjusting means 2tk that may also take many different forms vin accordance with the character of the power that is available, but as shown in l', such power operated adjusting ,means 2Q constitute a reversLleelectric Vrnotor 22 having actuating arm ZScperativeiy connected to the speed governing means il by an .operating link d The speed adjusting means 21S are governed by power control means 25 that in the present instance includes a balanced relay 26 having opcoils 2i and 28 that are adapted when selectively energized to rock the balanced arinathereof one direction or the other from normal position shown in Fig.Y l. The balanced armature 2Q is adapted for selective engagenient with stationary contacts Sii and 3i, and, de ending upon which one of these two contacts engaged, the adjusting motor 22 is operated in one direction or the other. Thus, as herein shown, operating power is provided for the motor 22 by a battery E3, one side of which is grounded at 3G; The other side of the battery is con eetod by wires 35 and in series to the armature ifs, while connections are extended from the contacts 5i) and 3| to the respective directional. windings of the motor 22, As herein shown, the common terminal of the motor 22 is grounded at and wires 39, ifi and di in seriesV afford a connection between the otherterminal of one of the directional windings to the'stationary contact 3G of the lrelay Et. Wires 2, 513 and in series form Va connection betweenthe other terminal of the other directionall windings tothe stationary contact 3l, and hence the motor 22 will driven in one direction or the other in accordance with the direction in which the armature of the power relay 2E is actuated.

The operations of the power controlrelay 2S and the adjusting means 25] are controlled by the joint action of a condition measuring means :35 and control apparatus that includes switch niechanisn'i S5 anda relay unit Il?. The condit on measuring means @i5 must ofcourse take a for-rn that .is dictated by the nature of the condiu tion that is to be measured, and where this condition is represented by the rotative speed of a shaft such as the shaft i3, the condition measurmeans fr Vtake the form of a fly-ball -snor if@ that is operatively associated with the shaft iii' so that the iiyeball governor, by the position of its centrifugal weights 35, Ineasures and positionally represents the speed of the shaft E3..

The governor d8 may take many different forni-s, but, as herein shown, this governor coni-- prises a tubular shaftV 5!) supported in suitable bearings 5i and-having the gear 52 fixed thereon so that theshaft 59, and the gear 52, is meshed with a gear 53' ixed on the shaft Yi3 so that the shaft 53 ofthe governor 48 is rotated at a speed that is proportional to the operating speed of the' shaft i3. On the shaft 5B, a supporting disc or plate 55 is mounted so as to afford support for the governor weights 4S, and these governor weights les are mounted on opposite positions on the plate 55 on pivotal axes 5'5. TheY governor weights i9 are formed vas parts of bell cranks that afford inwardly projecting arms 49A, the inner ends of whichare disposed vbeneath the lower race of an anti-friction thrust bearing 57. When the shaft Sii is rotated, the weights 49 tend to move outwardly, thereby to force the bearing 5l upwardly with respect to the shaft 5d, and this aotionis resisted by an adjustable governor spring that is disposed above the bearing 57 in surrounding relation to a governor rod 6! that is slidably disposed in .the tubular shaft 5t. The spring 50 rests at its lower end against the upper race of the bearing 57, while the other or upper end of the-spring S'bears against the lower end oan adjusting sleeve S2 that surrounds the upper end portion of the rod Bi. Thus a vertical adid i justment of the sleeve t2 serves to afford an adjustment ci the spring pressure applied downwardly upon the bearing 51, and such an adjustment may be conveniently attained through an adjusting means that includes a rack 62A formed on the outer surface oi the sleeve 52 and a pinion 63 formed on a stationarily supported horizontal rock shaft dit so that the pinion engages the rack 62A. An operating lever 65 is provided on the end of the shalt iid so that the shaft may be rotated to effect the desired adjustment of the governor spring 60.

The bearing i is connected to the governor rod Eil in a force transmitting relationship, as by pins and with this arrangement, the vertical movements and location of the rod SI serve as an indication of the speed or the speed variations of the shaft it from the desired predetermined speed. The predetermined speed that is to be maintained by the control apparatus shown in Fig. 1 is adjusted and determined by the setting or tension of the governor spring SS, and, when the shaft I3 is operating at the desired predetermined speed, the shaft or governor rod t! will be disposed in a predetermined or normal position, and, in the event of variation oi the speed in the shaft I3 either' above or below the desired predetermined speed, the governor rod 5I will be shifted longitudinally in one direction or the other from the normal position that it occupies when the proper predetermined speed exists.

rEhe movements of the governor rod 5I that are thus afforded response to undesired variations in the speed of the shaft I3 are utilized in accordance with the present invention to impart proportionalized adjusting operations to the motor 22 and hence to the speed governing means i1, and this is accomplished through electrical means that are' simple in character and reliable in operation. In the attainment of such controlling action in respect to the adjusting motor 22, the speed indicating movements or positions of the governor rod @i are utilized to operate the switch means 46 that control a relay unit 41, and this relay unit di' serves, in turn, through the power relay 25, to govern the operation of the motor 22 so that the corrective adjustments applied to the speed governing means I1 by the motor are proporticnai to the amount of the detected or measured deviation of the speed of the shaft i3 from the desired or predetermined speed.

The switch unit le includes a shiitable control member 'Iii that is operatively connected with the governor rod di so as to afford a motion multiplying means, and in the present instance the control member 1li is in the form of an elongated lever that is pivotally mounted at 1I at its lower end. In affording an actuating connection between the governor rod Gi and the control member 1d, a bell crank 12, pivoted at 13, has one arm 12A thereof connected by a pin and slot connection to the governor rod 5I, while a link 14 is pivoted at its opposite ends to the other arm 12B of the bell crank and to the control member 10. Thus the vertical movements of the governor rod 6I are applied to the control member 1B, and the control member 1G is utilized as a contact carrying means for shifting a plurality of contacts in opposite directions and along arcuate paths from a neutral position indicated by the dotted line N. When the shaft I3 is operating at the desired speed the control member 10 is maintained in the aforesaid neutral position, while variation of the engine speed from the desired standard moves the control member 10 in one direction or the other from such neutral position. Thus, when the engine speed falls below the desired predetermined speed, the governor rod 6I moves downwardly from its normal or neutral position, and the control member 10 is moved to the left from the aforesaid neutral position, and, in such movement, a contact 15, carried on the member 10 adjacent to its end, is moved into engagement with an arcuate contact strip S. Similarly, when the speed of the engine I5 increases above the desired predetermined speed, the governor rod 6I is moved upwardly so as to shift the upper end of the member 10 and the contact 15 in a right hand direction so as to engage the contact 15 with an arcuate contact strip F. When the shaft I3 is operating at the desired speed, the member 10 is located in its neutral position, and the brush or contact 15 is located in the space intermediate the adjacent ends of the contact strips S and F.

The control member 15 is also arranged to operate a pair of rheostats RA and RB that afiord variable resistances that are associated with the relay unit in such a way as to be efiective in attaining the desired proportional governing action. The rheostat RA is arcuate in form and is arranged for cooperation with a brush or contact 15A carried on the member 10 and forming part of the rheostat RA. The opposite ends of the resistance RA are connected by wires 16 and 11 that are in turn connected by a wire 1S to a terminal 19. The resistance RA is so disposed that when the Contact 15A is in itsv neutral position, the maximum amount of resistance will be included between the contact 15A and the wire 1S. The rheostat RB also includes an arcuate resistance that is adapted for cooperation with a wiper or contact 15B carried on the control member 1B, and it will be observed that the resistance RB has a center tap connection with a wire at what constitutes the neutral position ofthe contact 15B, and the wire 80 is extended to a terminal SI.

The switch means d6 are operatively associated with the relay unit 41 so as to control the operation of a pair of relays A and B that form part of the relay unit, these relays being of the slow-to-release type. The relay A has movable contacts A--I and A--2, the movable contact A-I being arranged to normally engage a stationary relay contact AIL, and being shiftable when the relay is operated so as to be disengaged from the relay contact AIL and to be engaged with the relay contact AIU. Similarly the movable relay contact A-Z is arranged so as to be normally engaged with a relay Contact A2L, and, when the relay A is operated, the contact A-Z is disengaged from the contact A2L and is engaged with a stationary contact AZU.

The relay B has movable relay contacts B-I, B-2 and B-3, the relay contact B-i being normally engaged with a stationary relay contact BIL, and being arranged to be moved into engagement with an idle stationary relay contact BIU when the relay Bis operated. Similarly the movable relay contact B-2 is normally engaged with an idle stationary relay contact BZL, and is arranged to engage a stationary contact B2U when the relay B is operated. The movable relay contact B3 is arranged so as normally to engage an idle stationary relay contact BBL, and, when the relay B is operated, the contact B--3 is engaged with a stationary contact BSU.

circuit is continued until such time as the brush l5 is moved into the space between the segments S or F or until such time as the relay B is released.

As hereinbefore pointed out the rhecstats and RB are related to the elements of the relay unit lll' in such a manner as to produce the desired proportionalized governing action, and in attaining this result provision is made whereby variable portions oi the resistance RA may be connected across the condenser 85, while variable portions of the resistance RB may be connected across the condenser 85. Thus the two brushes "55A and 15B are connected by a Wire H5 branches i 25A and l IEB to the end or a wire l l5, and the wire l l5 is connected through a resistance HER to the wire so that circuit is extended from the two brushes iEA and '55B through the wires liti and Q2 and the branches 92A and 522B respectively to one side ci each oi the condensers 35 and 86. The resistance HSR is employed in the present instance merely to insure that there will at all times be some resistance or load across the power source. Circuit from the other side ci the condenser 85 is extended by a wire l il to the terminal 19 so as to be connected to the opposite ends of the resistance RA, while a wire i223 is connected to the terminal 8l so as to be connected to the center of the resistance RB. lilith this construction, variable portions of the resistance RA may be rendered effective to aicrd a variable resistance leakage path for the condenser 85, while variable portions of the resistance RB may be rendered eiective to afford a variable resistance leakage path for the condenser 55, and although the effective portion or the resistance RA might be placed in series with the resistance 8l, and the effective portion ci the resistance RB might be s-o arranged as to be in series with the resistance 8%, the arrangement as herein shown places the resistance 8l in parallel with the resistance RA, and the resistance Si! parallel with the resistance RB.

With the structure thus described, the portion of the resistance RA that is effective across the condenser 85 is at the maximum so that the release time oi the relay A is at its maximum, when the detected speed variation is relatively small, and the eiective portion oi the resistance RA becomes gradually smaller and the release time ci the relay A becomes shorter as the detected variation becomes greater. The release time of the relay A serves to govern the length of the idle period between control impulses or operations of the motor L?, and hence it will be clear that the variations in the effective resistance RA cause such idle intervals to vary in an inverse relationship to the detected variation that is to be co1- rected. The other variable resistance RB is however connected ina different manner, and the portion oi the resistance RB that is eiective across the related condense-r 8S is at the minimum when the detected speed variation is relatively small, and becomes gradually greater as the detected speed-variation becomes greater. The effect of Vsuch variation in the eiective portions of the resistance RB is to increase the release time of the relay B as the detected speed variation be- `comes greater, and since the release time of the relay B governs the length of the control impulses, such variations in the resistance across the relay B serve to vary the length of the control impulses substantially in a direct or proportional relationshi; to the variation that is to be corrected.

Thus, by affording corrective periods of adjustment that vary in a direct relationship with respect to the magnitude of the detected variaion, alternating with idle inervals or periods that vary in an inverse relationship with respect to the magnitude of such detected variation, the regulator disclosed in Fig. 1 of the drawings operates to efect rapid re-establishment of the desired speed when variation thereof is detected, and by reason of the aforesaid relationship or the lengths of the adjusting periods and the idle periods to the speed variation that is to be corrected, such correction is accomplished without over-co 1recti n or hunting.

ne regulating action that is thus attained by the structure shown in Fig. l is graphically illustrated in Figs. 4 and 4A or the drawings. Thus the length of the variable release periods ci the relays A and B have been plotted with respect to the magnitude of the detected variation of the condition that is being measured and regulated, the line lZA showing the variation ci the release period of the relay A which governs the length o the idle periods, while the line 129B shows the variation in the release period or" the relay E which governs the length of the adjusting period of the apparatus.

In, Fig. 4A of the drawings, it has been assumed that r atively great variation of the critical condition has been detected, so that the control member 'l5 under such circumsances would be disposed a considerable distance from its neutral position N, the location on one side or the other of the neutral position being determined of course by the sense of the detected variation. The engagement of the brush 'l5 with one of the contact strips, as S, completes the energizing circuit to the relay B, and partially conditions the related direction-determining circuit, as the wire 98; and as an incident to the operation of the relay B, the relay contacts BEU and BSU of the two direction-determining circuits are further conditioned. These direction-determining circuits are of course open at this time due to the operated condition of relay A, so that the adjusting mechanism remains idle so long as the relay A remains operated. The operation of the relay B serves however to break the energizing circuit of the relay A, at contact BL, and hence the relay A remains operated only for the release period that is determined by the location of the brush '55A along the resistance RA.

Thus where the sense of the detected variation is such as to cause the brush 'i5 to engage the Contact segment S, and the magnitude of the variation is such that the control member "it is displaced a substantial distance from its neutral position N, a relatively small portion or the resistance RA will be connected across the relay A so to produce a relatively short release period for the relay which governs the interval between the adjusting periods, and a relatively large portion cr the resistance RB will be connected across the relay B so as to produce a relatively long release period for the relay B which controls the length of the adjusting periods.'

Hence, with particular 'reference to the graphic representation afforded by Figs. A and 4A, it will be observed that after the relay B has been energized as hereinabove described, the mechanism will have an idle period l25l that is terminated at the end of the release period of the relay A, and when the relay A is thus released, an adjusting period 12e-l is initiated. VIn Fig. 4A it will be observed that during this adjusting period it-i, the magnitude of the detected variation will be substantially reduced, and at the end of v11 this adjusting period, the release of the relay B will again closel the energizing circuit for the relay A. Thefrelay A will therefore beenergized so as to,y thereby close the energizing circuit for therelay B which will again break theenergizing circuit for the relay A and will break the Control circuit that is eiective in the assumedl situation through the contact A i. The adjusting circuit will therefore remain open until such time as-'the release period ofA the relay A hasexpired, suchrelease period thus affording an idle period tEd-2 as represented in Fig. 4A of the drawings. This idle period 42E-2 will ofcourse be substantialiy longer thanv the idle period V25-l, this being caused by the reduction in the detected variation during the preceding adjusting period itt-I; In thisconnection it might be observed that such reduction of the detected variation has increased the amount oi the resistance RA that is in circuit across the coilof the relay A, thereby to increasethe release timeof the relay A, At the end ofthe idle period lata-2.a second and somewhat shorter adjusting period 126-2 will be initiated so as to again reduce the; amount of the detected variation,Y andA at the end Vof the adjusting period IZB-#2, a-third-idle period i25-3 Will beinitated.

The mechanism will progress through a series of alternate idle periods iZand adjusting periods |26 in the manner just described until such time as the-detected variation has been so reduced as toibr-ing the brush 75 into the space-between the adjacent ends of the contact strips S and F, and it Will beobservedthat;thefadj'usting periods its will become progressively shorter, and the idle periods E25 willA become progressively longer, as the detected variationis reduced. Thus the 'mechanism showninfFig. l attains a proportionalized regulatingaction, and while the condition that is being regulated; will7 be brought quite rapidly `toward the desired valuacthe long idle periods 525 that are provided-i when the detected variation is relatively small seivei to affordtimexfor the critical condition to stabilize at a particular valuevand in addition, the; short adjusting periods IE5' that f are afforded at this time serve tol guard against overadjustment and hunting. This will be `par-- ticularly clear when the extreme shortness of the iinal adjusting periods, as iZS-ie and. iii-l i,

Vare noted in Fig. 4A.

In' the embodiment' of the invention disclosed in Fig. 1 of the drawings,.the apparatus hasvbeen illustrated asparticularly adapted for the regulationof the speed of a rotating member. Aso that Y thisspeed may be maintained'atV a desired value, l

lated, Thusthe chamber |121) is arranged to bev heated by hot water/that lis pumped through a .connection ljSD toa suitable heat transfer means withinthe, chamber 12D, suchpumping action being attained Vby a hot water pumpv ii5D that is drivenithroughaconnectionlSDbyavariablespeed drive means HD. The-variableV speed drive iiD is adjusted bya connection 24 fromv a power oper-l ated speed adjusting means 2U that is illustrated as being of'thegsameV character as that illustrated in Fig. 1, and the temperature in theV chamber 2D is measured by an associated .thermostat MED-that is operatively connected by alnls 74D "GQ- the control member it. The control member lil is illustrated in Fig. 2 as comprisingy a part of a VVswitch unit it that is the same as that illustrated inFig. l, and the switch unitl te acts throughfrelay units di' and ld to govern. the operation of power operated adjusting means 2t in the same manner as `hereinbefore described in connection with Fig. l. The regulating operation attained in the constructionV shown in Fig. 2 is substantially the same as hereinbefore described in connection with Fig. i, and the regulating action-may be graphically illustrated in the saine manner, as for exampie, i Figs. l and die.

In Fig. 3 of the drawings, the invention has been illustrated as associated with means for reg ulating any measurable condition, units` E3, 25, t8 and it? being the same as illustrated in Figs. l and 2. Thus the means in which the critical condition is produced are indcai d at HIE, and the critical condition in this unit iE isvaried by a variable condition-producing means iiE that is operatively associated with the unit il by a connection HSE. Means for adjusting the conditionwproducing action of the condition-producing means iE are indicated as a unit i'lE that is operatively associated or connected with the unit lE by a connection lE, and-this adjustable governing unit l'l'E is adjusted through'a connection 2li from the adjusting unit 2d that is of the same form that is illustrated in Fig. i.

The critical condition that is to be regulated in the unit IEE is measured by an associated condition measuring means-indicated as a unit at iiE, and such condition measuring means are connected by a link -E'to the control member lil of a switch unit 4G that corresponds with the unit d6 of Fig. l. Thus the control member is adj usted bythe condition measuring means and the switch unit 46 acts upon the relay units di and 25 in the same manner as hereinbefore described in connection with Fig. l. Thus the regulating mechanism of the present invention is applicable in a general sense to the regulation of any ine-asurable condition that is capable of controlled variation. The operation of the regulating mechanism shown in Fig. 3 may be graphically illustrated in the sameV manner as the mechanism shown in Fig. l, as for example inthe manner shown in Figs. d and 4A.

The regulating mechanism that has thus been aorded by the present invention such thatv it may be readily changed or adjusted so as to attain cycles of adjustingr or regulating operation that are different than the cycle of operation shown in Figs. 4 and 4A. For exampie, the mechanism may readily'be changed so as to aioid idle periods that are of constant length while providing adjusting periods that are varied in substantially direct proportion to the magnitude of the detected variation. Thus, in Fig; 5, the relationshipv of the release period ofL the reiay A to the magnitude of the detected variation is indicatedV bythe vertical" line INA-4, while the similar relationship forthe release period ofthe relay-B is indicated atv lZB-l. When this relatioriship is desired, therheostat RA may be disconnected, as for example, at the terminal 19, and in such an instance the value of the resistance S-i may be adjusted to give the desired constant release time for the relay A. When the mechanism is thus connected, al1 of the idle periods i 25C will be-constant, while the adjusting periodsv IZSV will become progressively smaller or shorter as the magnitude of the detected variation becomes Smaller. Hence the possibility of overcorrection is minimized in substantially the same manner as when both oi the rheostats RA and RB are utilized, and this will be apparent from a consideration of Fig. 5A and a comparison of this :n phical illustration with the illustration afforded in Fig. 4A of the drawings.

In other instances, the particular character of the mechanism with which the regulator is to be associated may make it desirable that constant adjusting periods |26 be afforded while variable or proportional idle periods are employed, and the operation of the mechanism of the present invention under such circumstances is graphically illustrated in Figs. 6 and 6A of the drawings. Thus in Fig. 6, the lines {20A-2 and i2ilB-2 illustrate the relation of the release periods in the relays A and B to the magnitude of the detected variation under the circumstances just outlined, and this relationship of the release times of the relays A and B may be attained through disconnection of the rheostat RB, as for example, at the terminal 8i. When this is done, the adjustment oi the resistance 88 will govern the standard or constant length of the release time oi the relay B. Under such circumstances, the length of the adjusting periods i26C will be constant as illustrated in Fig. 6A; While the idle periods |25V will become progressively longer as the magnitude of the detected variation becomes smaller. The increase in the length of the idle periods 425V as the magnitude of the detected variation becomes smaller will of course enable the regulated condition to have a considerable period in which to become stabilized at a particular value, and while some overcorrection may be encountered, as is indicated at |25 in Fig. 6A, this standard of operation may in such an instance be satisfactory, but if not, resort may again be had to the variable or proportional action that is attained in the manner hereinbefore described with respect to Figs. 4A and 5A.

Under other circumstances, the character of the installation may dictate that constant adjusting periods and constant idle periods may be desirable, as graphically illustrated in Fig. 7A of the drawings, and under such circumstances, both of the rheostats RA and RB are rendered ineffective as by disconnection thereof at the respective terminals 19 and 8i. When this is done, the line i20AB--3 may represent the constant release times oi the relays A and B, as shown in Fig. '7, and while both of these periods have been represented as being the same, it will be evident that the release time of either of the relays A or B may be adjusted by means of the resistances 31 or 88 so as to be diierent than the release time of the other of the two relays. When the release times of the two relays are adjusted as indicated at Fig. 7, the idle periods i25C--l and the adjusting periods |2BC-l are constant, and the operation of the regulator mechanism under such circumstances is represented in Fig. 7A. It will be recognized of course that under some circumstances this arrangement may be to overcorrect, although this has not been indicated in Fig. 7A. The standard of regulation that is to be attained may be such that cvercorrection of this character may be tolerated, but with the present apparatusl resort may oi course be had at any time to the proportionalized action that has been hereinbefore described.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the present invention enables the construction and maintenance oi highly sensitive and accurate regulators to be simplified, and en- CII ables regulators to be utilized in many diierent fields, enables the application of a basic form and construction of a regulator to different elds and conditions of use, and enables these results to be attained in a practical and economical manner.

It will also be evident that the present invention enables the readjusting or correcting operations to progress quite rapidly and to be relatively long when the critical condition has varied a considerable amount from the desired value, but it will also be evident that when the amount of variance of the critical condition from the desired value is relatively small, the increments of correction or readjustments are relatively small so as to avoid over-adjustment or hunting. The present invention therefore enables the correction or readjustment ci a critical condition to be accomplished without hunting, and enables this to be accomplished by apparatus that is simple and inexpensive in character. Furthermore, this invention enables the attainment of a proportionalized governing or regulating operation to be materially simplified and enables such proportionalized governing action to be attained by means that is primarily electrical in character.

More speciically, the present invention enables a proportionalized governing or regulating operation to be attained through use of a plurality of slow-to-release relays, and it enables the release times of such relays to govern not only the length of the speed adjusting operations that are effected but also to enable such relays to govern the intervals between the successive speed adjusting operations of the apparatus.

Thus, while we have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of our invention, it is to be understood that these are capable of Variation and modication and we therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth, but desire to avail ourselves of such changes and alterations as fall within the purview of the following claims.

We claim:

l. In a regulator apparatus, a shiftable control member adapted to be shifted into and out of a neutral position in response to variations in a condition that is to be regulated, a control circuit, switch means for said control circuit operated by said control member to close said control circuit when such control member moves out of said neutral posi tion in one direction and to open said control circuit when said control member is in said neutral position, a iirst slow-to-release relay having normally closed relay contacts included in said control circuit and eiective when said rst relay is operated to break said control circuit, a second slow-to-release relay having normally open contacts included in said control circuit and effective when said second relay is released to break said control circuit, and circuit means governed by said control member so as to be closed by said control member when said control member is displaced rom said neutral position for causing repeated cycles of alternate energization oi said rst and second relays whenever and so long as said control member is displaced from said neutral position.

2. In a regulator apparatus, a shiftable control member adapted to be shifted into and out of a neutral position in response to variations in a condition that is to be regulated, switch means operated by said control member to close said switch means when said control member moves out of said neutral position and to open said aset of said, contacts '15 switchI means. when said control1 member vis `in ,said neutral:y position, a control circuit including said;V switclrmeans,V aiirst -slow-to-release relay having.- normally closed-contacts included in said control'circuit and effective when said first relay is1operated -to break said control circuit, Vav second lslow-to-lelease relay having normally kopen contacts included in said' control circuit and'r effective when said second relay is released to break said control circuit, circuit means includingv and controlled by saidY s-witch means for causing alternate energization of said relays whenA `said switch means are closed, andrheostat means adjustable by said control member and connected across'sa'id second relay solas to be operable to pla-ce a resistance across said second relay when said control Vmember moves out ofsaid -neutral position and to increase said resistance-as the-displacement of said control member from said neutralposition increases.

3. In a regulator apparatus, a shiftable-control member shiftable into or out oi a neutral position in response to variations in a condition that `is to .beregulated, a control circuit, switch means for said `control circuit operated by said control member -to close said' control circuit when' such controlmember moves out kof said neutral -position and to. open said control circuit when said control member is in said neutral position; a rst -slowl-to-release-relay having normally closed-contacts included Vin ysaid control circuit and elective when said rst relayis operated to break said control circuit, a secondY slow-to-release relay having normally openv contacts included in said control circuit and effective when said second relay is released to brealrf said control circuit,

circuitl means including said' switch means for causing-'repeated alternate -energization of said relays whenI said control member is displaced Vfrom said neutralv position, and means operated bye said control member to oppositely vary the length of the release periods of said-1 two relaysas the displacement of said control member from said neutral position increases;

4. In a regulator apparatus, a shiftable control member shiftable into or out of a neutral position in response to variation inv a condition` that is to be regulated, a control circuit, switch means ,for said control circuit operated by said control member to close said control circuit when such control member moves out of said neutral position and to open said cont-rol circuit when said control member-is in Vsaid neutral position, arst sloW-to-rele'ase relay having normally closed contacts included in said control circuit and eiective when said rst relay is operated to break said control circuit-a second slow-to-release relay having normally open contacts included in said control circuit and operable whenl said second relay is released to break saidcontrol'circuit', circuit means rendered effective by said control member for causing repeated cycles oi."A alternate energizationV of said relays when said control member is displaced from said neutral; position, and means operated by said control member to vary the length of the releasegperiod of at least one of said relays as the displacement of said control member from said neutral position isA increased.

5. In a regulator apparatus, a controly circuit rhaving a first set of normally closedv contacts and a second set of normally open contacts all included in series therein, a iirst means including a relay coil' operatively associated with said rst for opening .said-V first set of contacts when said relay coil is energized, a second means including a second relay coil' operatively associated c'ith said second set of contacts to close said second set oi contacts when said second relay is energized, a control member adapted to be shifted into or out of a neutral position in response to variations in a condition that is to be regulated, circuit means controlled in part by said control member for causing said relay coils to be energized alternately in repeated cycles when said control member is displaced from said neutral position, and means associated with the respective relay coils for imparting slowto-release characteristics thereto.

6. In a regulator apparatus, a control circuit having a set of normally closed contacts and a set of normallyY open contacts included in series therein, a rst means including a relay coil operatively associated with said set oi normally closed contacts for opening said set of normally closed contacts whenl said relay'coil is energized, asecond means including a second relay coil operatively associated with said set of normally open. contacts to close said set oi normally open contacts when said second relay coil is energized, a control member adapted to be shifted into or out of a neutral position in response to Variations in a condition that is tobe regulated, means oontrolled in part by said control member for causing` saidY relay coils to be energized alternately when saidcontrol member is displaced from said neutra-l position, means associated with the respective-relay coils for imparting slow-to-release characteristics thereto, and means operated by said control member for Varying the release period'of at least one of said relay coils as the displacement oi` said control member from said neutral position is Varied,

7. In a regulator apparatus, a shiftable control member adapted to be shifted in one direction or the other from a neutral position in response to variations in a condition that is to be regulated,

a pair of selective control circuits, switch means under control of said control member and op- Aerative to close one or the other of said control circuits selectively when said control member.

moves out of said neutral position in one direction or -the, other and to open said control circuits when said control member is in said neutral position, a rst slow-to-release relay having normally closed contacts included in both of said selective control circuits effective when said iirst relay is operated to break said control circuits, a second sloW-to-release relay having normally open contacts included in said selective control circuits and effective when said second relay is released to break said control circuits, land circuit means arranged to be opened and closed by said control member for causing alternate energization of said relays when said control vmember is displaced from said neutralposition.

8, In a regulator apparatus, a shiftable control member adapted to be shifted in one direction or the other from a neutral position in response to variations in a condition that to be regulated, a pair ofv selective control circuits, switch -neans for said. control circuits and operated by said control member to close one or the other ci said control circuits selectively when such control member moves out of said neutral position in one direct-ion or the other and to open said control circuits whensaid control nember is in neutral position, a iirst slow-to-release relay having normally .closed relay contacts included in both oi said selective control circuits and effective when said rst relay is operated to break said control circuits, a second slow-to-release relay having normally open contacts included in said selective control circuits and effective when said second relay is released to break said control circuits, circuit means governed by said control member for causing alternate energization of said relays when said control member is displaced from said neutral position, and means operated by said control member to oppositely vary the length oi the release periods of said two relays as the displacement of said control member lroin said neutral position increases.

, 9. In a regulator apparatus, a shiftable control member adapted to be shifted in one direction or the other from a neutral position in response to variations in a condition that is to be regulated, a pair of selective control circuits, switch means operated by said control member to efect selective closure of said control circuits when such control member moves out of said neutral position in one direction or the other and to open said control circuits when said control member is in said neutral position, a first slow-to-release relay having normally closed relay contacts included in both of said selective control circuits and effective when said first relay is operated to break said control circuits, a second slow-to-release relay having normally open contacts included in said selective control circuits and effective when said second relay is released to break said control circuits, and circuit means including contacts of both of said relays and said switch means for causing alternate energization of said relays in repeated cycles when said control member is displaced from said neutral position thereof.

10. In a regulator apparatus, a shiftable control member having a neutral position and adapted to be shifted in one direction or the other in response to variation in a condition that is to be regulated, a pair of selective control circuits, switch means for said control circuits and operated having a movable contact and a pair of stationary contacts adapted for selective closure by said control member to close one or the other of said control circuits selectively when such control member moves out of said neutral position in one direction or the other, and to open said control circuits when said control member is in said neutral position, a first slow-to-release relay7 having normally closed relay contacts included in both of said selective control circuits and eiective when said rst relay is operated to break said control circuits, a second slow-to-release relay having normally open contacts included in said selective control circuits and effective when said second relay is released to break said control circuits, means governed by control member for causing alternate energization of said relays when said control member is displaced from said neutral position, and means operated by said control member to vary the length of the release period of at least one of said relays as the displacement of said control member from said neutral position is increased.

1l. In a regulator apparatus, a control circuit having a rst set of contacts, a second set of normally closed contacts and a third set of normally open contacts all included in series therein, a control member adapted to be shifted into or out of a neutral position in response to variations in a condition that is to be regulated and operable close said first set of contacts when said control member moves out of said neutral i position and to open said rst set of contacts when said control member is in said neutral position, a first means including a relay coil operatively associated with said second set oi said contacts for opening said second set of contacts when said relay coil is energized, a second means including a second relay coil operatively associated with said third set of contacts to close said third set of contacts when said second relay coil is energized, means controlled in part by said first set of contacts and in part by said control member for causing said relay coils to be energized alternately and in repeated cycles when said control member is displaced from said neutral position, and means associated with the respective relay coils for imparting slow-to-release characteristics thereto.

l2. In a regulator apparatus, a shiftable control member having a neutral position and adapted to be shifted in one direction or the other in response to variations in a condition that is to be regulated, switch means having a movable contact and a pair of stationary contacts adapted for selective closure by said control member when such control member moves out of said neutral position in one direction or the other, and to be opened when said control member is in said neutral position, rst and second slow-to-release relays, a pair of selective control circuits extended from said stationary contacts of said switch means and each controlled by normally closed contacts of said first relay and normally open contacts of said second relay, means affording an energizing circuit for said first relay including normally closed contacts of said second relay,

fand an energizing circuit for said second relay extended from said stationary contacts of said switch means and including normally open contacts of said rst relay.

13. In a regulator apparatus, a shiftable control member having a neutral position and adapted to be shifted in one direction or the other in response to variations in a condition that is to be regulated, switch means operatively associated with said control member and having a movable contact and a pair of stationary contacts adapted for selective closure by said control member when such control member moves out of said neutral position in one direction or the other, and to be opened when said control member is in said neutral position, first and second slow-to-release relays, a pair of selective circuits extended from said stationary contacts of said switch means and each controlled by normally closed contacts of said rst relay and normally open contacts of said second relay, means affording an energizing circuit for said first relay including normally closed contacts of said second relay, an energizing circuit for said second relay extended from said stationary contacts of said switch means and including normally open contacts of said rst relay, and rheostat means operated by said control member and operatively associated with at least one of said relays to vary the release time of at least one of said relays as the extent of displacement of said control member from said neutral position is varied.

14. In a regulator apparatus, a shiftable control member having a neutral position and adapted to be shifted in one direction or the other in response to variations in a condition that is to be regulated, switch means operated by said control member and having a movable contact and a pair of stationary contacts adapted for selective closure by said control member when such control member morves out of said neutral posisecond relay,

asomo-ee,

lit

tion. in, one direction or the. other, and tov be opened when said control' member is in said neu.- tral position, rst and second slow-toi-release. re1- lays, a pair of selective circuits extended.` from said stationary contacts of said: switch means and each controlled by normally closed contacts of said first relay and normally opencontacts of said means affording' an energizing circuit for said iirst relay including normally closed contacts of said second relay, an energizing circuit for said second' relay extended' from said stationary contacts of said switch means and including normally open contacts of saidrst relay, rli'eostat means operated by said control member and operativelyL associated with said second relay to increase the release time of said second relay as' the extent of displacement of said control member from said neutral position is increased', and rheostat'means operated by Isaldi control member and operatively associated with. saidv iirst relay to reduce the. release time of said l'irst relay as the extent of displacement of said control member from said neutral position is increased.

l5; Ina regulator apparatus, 'ashi'ftable control member having a neutrali position and adapted to be shifted" in one direction or the other in response to. variations in a. condition that is to be regulated, switch means` operated by said control' member and having a movable contact and a pair of' stationary contacts adapted for selective closure by saidY control member when such control. member' moves` out of` said neutral position in one direction or theA other, and to be opened when said contro'limem'b'er'is in said neutral position, firs-t andi second 'sl'owmto-release relays, a pair of: select-ive. circuits extended from said' stationary contacts or( said' switch means and each controlled by normally closed contacts of: said? iirst' relay and normally open contacts of sai'dseeondrelay, means aii'ording an energizing circuit io'r said first' relayincluding normally closed contactsy ot'said second" relay, an energizing circuit. for' said' second rel'ay extended from said stationary contacts osaid switch means and inciuding. normally open contactsof'sai'clv first relay, rheostat means operated' by said controlv member and operatively associated! with saidv rst relay to.v increase the'. release time of said second relay and redfucethe release time of saidrst relay as the extentv of displacement of said controll member from said` neutral' position is increased.

.16a In ar regulator apparatus, a shift'able control member having a neutral position and adapted to be shifted in onedirection or the other in respon-se to variations in a condition that is to beregulated, switch means operated bysai'd control member and having a movable contact and' a pair of Vstationary contacts adapted for selective closure by said control member when sucli'eont'rol member moves out'of said neutral position inone directionA or theA other, and rto be opened when' said control member is in said' neu'- tral' position, rst and second sloW-torelease relays, a-'pair of selective circuits extended' from said stationaryjcontacts of' said switch means and each controlled by' normally closed contacts of said rst relay and; normally open, 'contacts ofsaidsecondf relay, means aording an energizingcircuit for' said' first' relay including normallx7 closed contacts of said second' relay, and an energizing circuit for said second relay extended from' said stationary contacts5 of means and including normally open` contacts. of said iirst'V relay said switch and' rheostat meansv operated.- by` saidA control member and1 operativelyv associated with said second relayy to.L increase; the'v release time. of said second relay asthe extent of; displace.- ment of said control` member from said neutral position is increased.

17. In a regulator apparatus, a. control circuit;

having a, first` set. of normally closed contacts and a second. set of normally open contacts. alli included in series: therein, a rst means includ-,

ing. a relay coil operatively associated with. said iirst set of saidy contacts for opening said first set of contacts when said Vrelay'coil' is energized, a second means including asecond relay coil. op:- eratively associated With` said' second set of con'- tacts to open said second set of; contacts when said second relay coil is energized, a controlmember adapted to be shifted into' or out: of a neutral position' in response to2 variations in av condition that is to be. regulated', means: controlled in part; by said. control member for causing said.' relay coils to beenergized alternately rinl repeated cycles when' said control member is displaced from said neutral position, means' associated With. therespectiveV rela-y vcoils for imparting' slovveto-releaseY characteristics thereto, and means' operated by' said control member and operatively associated' n ith at least one of said relay coils-y i'orl varying the release period of at least' one of. said relay coils as the displacement of. -saidi control member from said neutral positionais'varied.

18. In a regulator apparatus, a con-trol circuit having a First' set of normallyr closed' contacts and a second set ci' normally open contacts all'A includedin series ther a first: means includ- 'ing arelay coil operatively associated said.'

iirst, set of said' contacts for opening said` iirst set of contacts When said relay c'oi f energized, a second means including; a secondi relay coil operatively associated with said. second' set ot con- 40 tacts to close said second. set of contacts' when said second relay coil: is energized, a; control' member adapted tof be shifted into: or out of a. neutral: position in response to variations' in a conditionv that is to be regulated, interconnected' energizing circuits for said. relays: operable when rendered effective to cause said. relay coils` to be energized alternately repeated' cycles, means governed by said control. member i'o'r rendering said energizing circuits etiectiyel when Said' control member is displaced from said neutral posi'- tiorr, and adjustable means associated with the. respeet've relay coils for' imparting',adjustably' variable slow-to-release characteristics tov suche relay coils.

19. In a. regulator apparatus; a. shi'ftable con-..- trol` member adapted' to' be shifted intor and ont of aneutral position in response tovariations' inY a Vcondition that is to; be regulated, switch. mea-ns operated by said control member to c'l'ose said switchniean-s when said con-trol. member' moves out of said neutral position and 'to open said switch means. when. saidl control mem-ber' is in said neutral. posi-tion, a controlZ circuit includ'-Y ing said switch means, a first slow"-to-relea-se` relay having normally' closed contacts included in said. control circuit` and effective- When saio first relay is operated to break said control circuit, a secondsloWato-release relay having nor' mally open contacts included-.- in saidV control cir'- cuit and effective when said second relay is' re-A leased tobreak saldi control. circuit',l and circuit` means governed by said: control member' for' causing alternate` energization of sai-d' relays.

20. In anv apparatus of the character described.

'. a shiftable con-trol member having a neutral pcik sition and adapted to be shifted in one direction in response to vari-ation in a condition that to be regulated, switch means having a movabie contact and a stationary contact adapted for cio sure by said control member when such control member `moves out of said neutral position in said direction, and to be opened when said control member is in said neutral position, nrst and second sloW-to-release relays, control circuit eis:- tended from said stationary Contact of said switch means and controlled open contacts of said second relay, means affording an energizing circuit for said rst relay including, normally closed contacts of said second relay, and an en ergizing circuit for said second relay extended from said stationary Contact of said switch means and including normally open contacts of said first relay.

21. In a regulator apparatus, a shiftable control member having a neutral position and adapted to be shifted in one direction or the other in resp-onse to Variations in a condition that is to be regulated, switch means having a movable contact and a pair of stationary contacts adapted for selective closure by said control member when such control member moves out of said neutral position in cne direction or the other, and to be opened when said control member is in said neutral position, rst and second slow-to-release relays, a pair of selective control circuits extended from said stationary contacts of said switch means and each con trolled by normally closed contacts of said rst relay and normally open contacts of said second relay, means affording an energizing circuit for said iirst relay including normally closed contacts of said second relay, an energizing circuit for said second relay extended roin said stationary contacts of said switch means and including normally open contacts of said first relay, and rheostat means connected across the 'terminals of one of said relays and operatively associe-.ted with said control member to place varying amcunts of resistance in circuit across said last mentioned one oi said relays the extent of dispacement of said control member from said neutral position is varied.

ROSSER L. WLSON.

ERWIN R.. ENAUER.

REFERENCES CITE!) The icilowing references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,598,694 Siackieton Sept. 7, 1926 13363502 Geiselman June 14, 1932 1,913,699 Crago June 13, 1933 2,339,750 Bartholy Jan. 25, 1.944 

